Printer having individual character chips

ABSTRACT

A serial character teleprinter, typewriter or the like in which the type face elements are individual small flat chips each having a single character on a main flat face thereof, the chips being of minimal thickness and having uniform profile dimensions only slightly larger than the outline or envelope dimensions of the largest character (or numeral or sign) included in the font. The chips forming a complete font-set are carried in a magazine, for example edgewise in individual radial guide slots formed in a turret wheel or drum which is rotated to bring any selected chip into transfer relation to a transfer mechanism, which, after receiving the chip, carries it to imprinting position and thereafter restores it to the magazine.

United States Patent 1 Willcox [54] PRINTER HAVING INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER CHIPS [76] Inventor: Frederick P. Willcox, 565 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, Conn. 06840 [22] Filed: July 15, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 54,876

[52] US. Cl ..197/16, 197/18 [51] Int. Cl. ..B41j 23/02 [58] Field of Search ..l97/l6, 18, 53

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,157,264 11/1964 Frechette ..197/l6 3,307,672 3/1967 Young ..l97/18 2,874,634 2/1959 Hense ....101/93 C 2,620,731 12/1952 Slonneger ..101/405 2,180,360 11/1939 Krum et al ..197/53 51 May 8, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. T. Rader Att0rneyHomer R. Montague [57] ABSTRACT A serial character teleprinter, typewriter or the like in which the type face elements are individual small flat chips each having a single character on a main flat face thereof, the chips being of minimal thickness and having uniform profile dimensions only slightly larger than the outline or'envelope dimensions of the largest character (or numeral or sign) included in the font. The chips forming a complete font-set are carried in a magazine, for example edgewise in individual radial guide slots formed in a turret wheel or drum which is rotated to bring any selected chip into transfer relation to a transfer mechanism, which, after receiving the chip, carries it to imprinting position and thereafter restores it to the magazine.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures INPUTS POWER Patented May 8;, 1973 PRINTER CONTROLS (4a.. Arr'x PRINTER HAVING INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER CHIPS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present invention is an extension and improvement in the type-font arrangements of my Application Ser. No. 581,020, filed Sept. 21, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,847 of Oct. 20, 1970. The disclosure of that patent is to be considered as incorporated herein and may be referred to for many structural details of a complete machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Printing or typewriting machines having conventionally included either a separate type bar arm of considerable size, bearing one character face or imprinting area at one end of each bar (or at most two or three such faces, as for upper and lower case selection), or they have utilized a single font element such as a wheel, cylinder or partial sphere on which all of the character faces are provided. Such type bars or font elements are at best of considerable size and weight (and inertia), and the speed of operation is severely restricted, not only with reference to the character-selecting motion, but also by the need for considerable accelerative force in bringing the selected character face into imprinting relation to the platen or other paper support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehendsthe reduction of the individual size and mass or weight of the character face elements to a minimum, by forming each character face on the surface of a respective thin, lightweight metal or plastic chip of thickness only sufficient to support the minimal chip-securing and transfer forces of the mechanism, and to withstand the printing pressure or impact. These chips are analogous to the type-face ends of the edgewise-stored pivotal printing elements of the prior patentmentioned above, but the inertia of the pivotal type bar-portions is eliminated, and the operating speed thereby substantially increased.

The chips forming a complete font of characters, figures, signs and the like are normally stored or shelved edgewise in a magazine or cartridge, typically in individual slots (i.e., pairs of facing grooves) of a turret wheel or drum which can he stepped or rotated to bring the selected chips in turn to a transfer location. As each selected chip reaches that position, a transfer mechanism removes it from its stored position, in which its general plane is radial with reference to the drum axis, and this removal is accomplished preferably by a sliding motion parallel to the drum axis. The chipremoval operation, in anyevent, leaves the selected chip physically connected to, or inserted in, a movable arm or the like which carries it to a common imprinting position adjacent the writing line area of a paper support such as a platen. Printing impression may result merely from the energetic swing or motion of this arm, or from the impressing action of a separate hammer or similar instrumentality. The movable arm may be oscillated by a bi-directional electric motor, or by a spring in one direction and by some electromagnetic power means, such as a solenoid magnet and rack-and-pinion drive, in the other. Moreover, the transfer arm may execute a rectilinear motion, if the orientation of the type font drum relative to the printing point is properly selected.

The advantages of such an arrangement, especially for high speed printers of the code-controlled kind such as teletypewriters, are very considerable. The individual chips need only be strong enough to support themselves in undistorted condition, having regard to the fact that the impression force will be mainly compressive and directed along the thickness dimension of the chips. The chips are inexpensive, and are readily exchangeable to provide any desired special characters or for easy maintenance. Since only a single selection, transfer and impressing means is required for the totality of the chips, comparatively little spaced is needed, and the controls are greatly simplified. Also, the low mass of the chips allows them to be moved very rapidly with only reasonable forces, and hence by lightweight parts of entirely adequate strength. Finally, the arrangement lends itself to a variety of configurations which can accommodate numerous particular machine designs and features, with good instant visibility of the impressionsas they are made, economical exchange of different type face designs, or choices as to characters and signs, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view, largely diagrammatic, of one arrangement according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view, generally transverse to the main (platen and drum) axes of FIG. 1 and generally taken along line 2 2 of the latter Figure, showing the selected chip being moved to printing position by arotary arm.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of font-drum and chip-transfer parts on a unitary carriage, and illustrating a different (spring-restored) chip transfer mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a different arrangement of the drum turret and transfer mechanisms.

FIG. 5 is a view in sideelevation corresponding to FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 of the drawings shows the font turret or drum 10 of metal, molded plastic or the like, mounted for rotation about the axis of a horizontal control shaft 12, along which the turret, and its appurtenances, may slide stepwise under the controlof any conventional or desired carriage driving means. Alternatively, as will be obvious, the progression of imprints (such as shown along writing line 14) may be produced by stepwise motion of a platen or other paper support parallel to shaft 12, in which case thedrum motion need be merely rotary. A character-selecting stepping motor 16 drives shaft 12 to bring any selected character chip to a common transfer position.

An individual characterchip such as 18 is provided for each character, figure, sign or the like of the font, and these chips are all quite thin, preferably less than 0.015 inch in body thickness and of the order of 0.030 inch total thickness including the height of the raised character-imprinting face. The other dimensions 3. (length and'width) of the chips are uniform throughout theset, they being preferably rectangular and of such size (typically 0.150 inch wide by 0.200 inch high) as to receive comfortably the raised type-face configuration of the largest character or sign. Each chip is normally stored edgewise in grooves formed in the opposed annular faces of a circular coaxial slot or recess 20 opening into one face 22 of the drum l0, and these chipreceiving. grooves, and the corresponding opposite edges of the chip, are shaped as dovetails or the like for a purpose to be described. The particular chip marked 18 in FIG. I, being the chip for printing a capital F, is shown slid to the left out of the drum recess, and in this position it would have entered a recess in a chip-transport arm to be described, but which is omitted from FIG. 1 to avoid complication of the lines showing the chip transport path.

I The ejection of a selected chip from the drum to the position shownfor chip 18, is accomplished by a solenoid magnet 24 mounted to the rightof the drum just opposite to the position occupied by the chipreceiving en d 'of the transport arm. The core of this magnet carries a blade 25 (shown diagrammatically in FIGQI) shaped to enter a hole through the back face of drum 10 opposite the face 22 visible in FIG. 1, there beingone hole-for each chip. A similar solenoid magnet 26, with similar core and blade 27, is provided to restore the chip (after an imprint) from the transport armback into the font drum 10.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship of the drum 10 and platen or paper support 28 to the transport arm 30. The arm is oscillated on the axis of its shaft 32, as by a bidirectional motor 33, see FIG. 1, between a lower (dash-line) position in which a dovetail pocket on its distal end has received a selected chip, as described above for chip l8, and an upper (full-line) position in which'the type face portion is impressed against the paper 34 (such as pressure-sensitive paper) on platen 28, or against a standard inking ribbon (not shown). The dovetail relation between the pocket of arm 30 and the chip edges minimizes the chance of any ghost imprint on the paper by the edge of the retaining guides of the transfer arm, but other edge shapes may be used, and indeed the chips maybe of steel and held on the end of the arm 30 by magnetic attraction.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the parts described above may be organized on a carriage consisting mainly of spaced mounting plates 36 and 38. The hub 40 of font drum 10 slidably receives the square or splined shaft 12 so that the character-selecting motion of the drum can be controlled at any position lengthwise of the writing line. In the position shown, transfer arm 30 is in the down position (of FIG. 2), and the chip 18 has been pushed from the drum into the pocket of arm 30 by the solenoid actuated blade 25, the magnet 24 being mounted on the plate 38 and the blade 25 passing through the hole 44 for chip 18's position in the drum. Clearance for the blade is exaggerated in the Figure, the blade preferably closely fitting the hole, and one of those parts being chamfered for easy entrance. In this way, the blade 42 spring-pressed tothe right as by spring 48. After printing of chip 18 has been accomplished, arm 30 will return to its lower position, and blade 46 will re-stow the chip as soon as magnet 24 is de-energized. During the movement of arm 30 upward and back, blade 46 is latched in the position shown asby any convenient mechanical latch, which is released as the arm 30 again I 18 to the stowed position in drum 10, the magnet 24 now having been de-energized.

In the forms of the invention so far described, the

removal of a chip from the drum, and its subsequent movement to imprinting position, are performed along two different paths. A- re-arrangement of the parts to permit a single rectilinear motion is illustrated in F IGS.

4 and 5 of the drawings. The drum 10 is now mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and beneath the printing point, and the rotation of the drum to effect character selection is shown as performed by the use of a cogged belt 52, bevel gearing or the like, by means of a drive source which may be arranged just like the motor 16 and shaft 12 of FIG. 1. In any event, the removal direction of the chips is now upward, so that a reciprocating bar assembly 54, 56 can remove the selected chip and move it up to printing position by a single movement. Specifically, the pusher bar 56 (operating through drum holes as indicated at 44 in FIG. 3) may engage the chip from below and move it up to printing position as shown by dash lines in FIG. 4,

also acts to positively index the position of the drum for each selected character, and ensure accurate re-storing also.

where imprinting, is produced as by the action of a hammer or print solenoid magnet 58, FIG. 5. Accurate positioning of the chip 18 on the upper end of pusher bar 56 is aided by provision of a slight projection or tab 60 on the bottom edge of each chip, and a cooperating formation of the upper end of the bar 56. After imprinting, the chip is re-stowed in drum 10 by the puller bar 54, whose upper end is hooked to engage the upper edge of the chip.

The foregoing motions of bars 54, 56 maybe accomplished by a crank arm 62 pivoted thereto, and a drive means such as a rotary solenoid magnet 64. It is contemplated that the chips would be securely retained in the drum, against accidental loss, by the frictional engagement of their guide edges, but they may instead by fitted loosely, and fortuitous loss prevented by a stationary shield 66 having a narrow slot or opening, for chip passage, only at the location where the selected chips are to be transferred out of and into the drum.

It is obvious that the drum, in all instances, need not be fitted directly to the selection shaft 12, but may instead be mounted on a stub shaft or the like and connected to the shaft 12 by gearing, a cogged belt or any equivalent and convenient means. By the same token, the axis of the drum shaft need not be precisely vertical in the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 5, but may be inclined to the vertical.

Likewise, a lost-motion connection may be provided between the pusher bar 56 and puller bar 54, so that bar 56 in its lowermost position would be clear of the drum (tabs 60 being eliminated), rising from that position to engage the selected chip and elevate it against the lower side of the hooked extremity of bar 54. The bars and chip can then rise to imprinting position, and return, whereupon the lost motion allows bar 56 to drop free of the drum.

The drum or magazine may if desired be constructed as a readily removable cartridge to facilitate interchange of different type styles or fonts in the printer. It will be understood that guiding means for the bars 54 and 56, or for the chips, have been eliminated from FIGS. 4 and 5 for clarity, and that such may be provided in any appropriate form by those skilled in the art. Such guides, ofcourse, will be so constructed as to leave the bars 54, 56 and/or the chips free for the necessary imprinting displacement at the time of imprinting; for example, they may be flexible in that region. Finally, it is entirely feasible to utilize a swinging transport arm, rather than a reciprocating transport arm, in connection with the generally-vertical drum shaft of FIGS. 4 and 5.

An electrical power supply for the printer, as well as an indication of the selection and imprinting circuits and controls, are illustrated by the labeled blocks of FIG. 1. The specific nature of these is not deemed a part of the present invention, but reference may be made to the prior patent mentioned above for typical forms which they may take.

I claim:

i. In a printer,

a. a composite font assembly comprising,

a fontset of individual type face bearing chips, said chips being identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being generally rectangular in plan view with a font character or symbol configured in relief on one face thereof, and having two opposite edges configured for edgewise guidance and retention of the chip;

a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess with inner and outer walls in one face thereof with said font-set of chips stored therein, said chips being retained substantially radially relative to said axis in respective parallel grooves in the outer and inner walls of said recess with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial from, said axis, and having. a rear wall forming a bottom to said annular recess,

b. means to eject a selected chip from said carrier,

c. means to imprint with said selected chip, and j d. control means to effect in sequence chip selection,

ejection of said chip from said carrier, of said chip to imprinting position and imprinting therewith, and re-storing the chip to said carrier.

2. A printer in accordance with claim 1, said carrier being apertured in the rear wall of said recess at each chip position to permit entry of a chip removal member to effect chip ejection.

3. In an electrically controlled serial printer,

a. means for supporting impression-paper to receive character or symbol imprints along a writing line;

b. a font-set of individual type-face bearing thin chips, identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being rectangular in plan view with a font character, symbol or the like configured in relief on one major face thereof, and having two opposite edges configured for guidance and retention;

c. a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess with inner and outer walls in one face thereof with said font-set stored therein, said chips being retained substantially radially relative to said axis in respective grooves in the inner and outer walls of said recess, said inner and outer walls being connected by a rear wall, with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial from, said axis;

d. drive means for rotating said carrier to bring a selected chip to a transfer position;

e. transfer means for ejecting said selected chip by motion in a line parallel to said axis, transporting said chip to printing position adjacent said writing line, and returning said chip to its stored position in said carrier;

f. impression means adjacent said writing line to effect imprinting with said selected chip by deflecting the chip from the plane of transport toward said supporting means; and

g. control means to effect the operation of said drive means, transfer means, and impression means in a sequence of chip selection, ejection, transport, imprinting, and re-storing.

4. A printer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the rear wall of said carrier is apertured at each chip position to permit entry of a portion of said transfer means.

5. In an electrically controlled serial printer,

a. means for supporting impression paper to receive character or symbol imprints along a writing line;

b. a font-set of individual type-face bearing thin chips or the like, said chips being identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being generally rectangular in plan view and having 1. a front face with a font character or symbol configured in relief thereon, and 2. two opposite edges configured for sliding the chip in and out of grooves;

c. a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess or equivalent in one face thereof with said font-set of chips stored therein, said chips being retained in an edgewise mannerin respective pairs of parallel grooves with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial from, said axis, said chips being slidably removable from said grooves;

d. drive means for rotating said carrier to bring a selected chip to a transfer position;

e. first transfer means having a chip removal member located adjacent said carrier and in line with said transfer position for removing or ejecting said selected chip from said carrier by motion in a line parallel to said axis; chip transport and imprinting means, also adjacent said carrier and said transfer position, for receiving, retaining and supporting said selected chip when it is transferred thereto from said carrier by said first transfer means, and for transporting said 7 selected chip to a printing position along said writing line, imprinting therewith, and returning said chip to said transfer position;

. second transfer means adjacent said transport and imprinting means, said second transfer means in eluding a chip-restoring member coaxial with said chip removal member, for removing or ejecting the selected chip from said transport means and re-storing it in its stored position in said carrier by motion in a direction opposite to that of said chip during removal; and

. control means to effect operation of said drive means, first transfer means, transport and imprinting means, and second transfer means, in sequence, to complete a chip selection and imprinting cycle.

6. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said drive means comprises, in part, a stepping motor coupled to a drive shaft, said shaft being parallel to said writing line with said font-set carrier being slidably mounted thereon, and rotatable thereby.

7. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second transfer means is spring biased to effect chip restoration and is latched in a cocked position during the transport and imprinting portion of the chip selection and imprinting cycle.

8. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carrier is apertured in the rear wall of said recess at each chip position to permit entry of said chip removal member to effect chip ejection. 

1. In a printer, a. a composite font assembly comprising, a font-set of individual type face bearing chips, said chips being identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being generally rectangular in plan view with a font character or symbol configured in relief on one face thereof, and having two opposite edges configured for edgewise guidance and retention of the chip; a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess with inner and outer walls in one face thereof with said font-set of chips stored therein, said chips being retained substantially radially relative to said axis in respective parallel grooves in the outer and inner walls of said recess with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial from, said axis, and having a rear wall forming a bottom to said annular recess, b. means to eject a selected chip from said carrier, c. means to imprint with said selected chip, and d. control means to effect in sequence chip selection, ejection of said chip from said carrier, of said chip to imprinting position and imprinting therewith, and re-storing the chip to said carrier.
 2. A printer in accordance with claim 1, said carrier being apertured in the rear wall of said recess at each chip position to permit entry of a chip removal member to effect chip ejection.
 2. two opposite edges configured for sliding the chip in and out of grooves; c. a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess or equivalent in one face thereof with said font-set of chips stored therein, said chips being retained in an edgewise manner in respective pairs of parallel grooves with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial froM, said axis, said chips being slidably removable from said grooves; d. drive means for rotating said carrier to bring a selected chip to a transfer position; e. first transfer means having a chip removal member located adjacent said carrier and in line with said transfer position for removing or ejecting said selected chip from said carrier by motion in a line parallel to said axis; f. chip transport and imprinting means, also adjacent said carrier and said transfer position, for receiving, retaining and supporting said selected chip when it is transferred thereto from said carrier by said first transfer means, and for transporting said selected chip to a printing position along said writing line, imprinting therewith, and returning said chip to said transfer position; g. second transfer means adjacent said transport and imprinting means, said second transfer means including a chip-restoring member coaxial with said chip removal member, for removing or ejecting the selected chip from said transport means and re-storing it in its stored position in said carrier by motion in a direction opposite to that of said chip during removal; and h. control means to effect operation of said drive means, first transfer means, transport and imprinting means, and second transfer means, in sequence, to complete a chip selection and imprinting cycle.
 3. In an electrically controlled serial printer, a. means for supporting impression paper to receive character or symbol imprints along a writing line; b. a font-set of individual type-face bearing thin chips, identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being rectangular in plan view with a font character, symbol or the like configured in relief on one major face thereof, and having two opposite edges configured for guidance and retention; c. a drum-like font-set carrier, rotatable about its axis, having a single annular recess with inner and outer walls in one face thereof with said font-set stored therein, said chips being retained substantially radially relative to said axis in respective grooves in the inner and outer walls of said recess, said inner and outer walls being connected by a rear wall, with the type faces of the chips in planes parallel to, and generally radial from, said axis; d. drive means for rotating said carrier to bring a selected chip to a transfer position; e. transfer means for ejecting said selected chip by motion in a line parallel to said axis, transporting said chip to printing position adjacent said writing line, and returning said chip to its stored position in said carrier; f. impression means adjacent said writing line to effect imprinting with said selected chip by deflecting the chip from the plane of transport toward said supporting means; and g. control means to effect the operation of said drive means, transfer means, and impression means in a sequence of chip selection, ejection, transport, imprinting, and re-storing.
 4. A printer in accordance with claim 3 wherein the rear wall of said carrier is apertured at each chip position to permit entry of a portion of said transfer means.
 5. In an electrically controlled serial printer, a. means for supporting impression paper to receive character or symbol imprints along a writing line; b. a font-set of individual type-face bearing thin chips or the like, said chips being identical in size and shape to one another, each chip being generally rectangular in plan view and having
 6. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said drive means comprises, in part, a stepping motor coupled to a drive shaft, said shaft being parallel to said writing line with said font-set carrier being slidably mounted thereon, and rotatable thereby.
 7. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second transfer means is spring biased to effect chip restoration and is latched in a cocked position during the transport and imprinting portion of the chip selection and imprinting cycle.
 8. A printer in accordance with claim 5 wherein said carrier is apertured in the rear wall of said recess at each chip position to permit entry of said chip removal member to effect chip ejection. 